Prayer for Ukraine

 Posted this thread on twitter earlier today, and thought I'd share here too:

My oldest daughter was in Ukraine for 2.5 years. Taught English in Kostopil. We visited her in August 2017. It breaks my heart to think that the beautiful people of this nation are now at war. Here I am with my daughter at a cafe in central Kiev.

In 2017 memorials were still standing to honor those who had fallen in the Maidan revolution of 2014, as well as for those who had fallen in fighting on the Russian border.

At my daughter's school in 2017, there were patriotic displays and recruitment signs related to military training, even targeting young girls.

My daughter was a member for two years at one of the two Baptist churches in Kostopil. We attended a baptismal service on our 2017 visit in which more than 20 converts were baptized, and I was invited to give a short greeting.

My wife and daughter and I posed with the pastor of the Kostopil church and his wife in 2017. This man is now pastoring a flock in the midst of war.

Here's my daughter with one of her students and her student's sister in 2017. These young women were members of the Baptist church in Kostopil and at the time were planning to head to Kiev for university studies. Praying for the safety of these dear sisters.

This young man was part of the Kostopil church and a student at the school where my daughter taught. He and his family were very kind to my daughter. This was five years ago now. Breaks my heart to think that this (now) young man may be on the front lines.

This young lad was dressed out in a traditional shirt at the baptismal service in Kostopil in 2017. I wonder if he and his family are safe today.

JTR